Bouncer
Chapter 2
The Girl Next Door
By Morgan Kauffman
Steve enters his basement room, and comes to a small desk with an old desktop computer on top and plops into a swivel chair in front of it. He turns on his computer and his computer; Miss Database, greets him. "Good evening, Steven.", a sultry female voice enters the room. Steve replies sarcastically, "Good evening, Miss Database.", he opens a cold can of soda and slurps it down in large gulps. "Alright, let's see whose online tonight shall we?". Steve types vigorously away at his computer and opens any and every chat room and web browser there is on his computer and sits back in his chair. He takes some more gulps of his drink. A message appears on his computer from someone named Stacy; "Hey baby, I'm bored tonight. You're the only one who is always online no matter what and I need someone to talk to.". Steve cracks his knuckles and smiles as he types on his computer. His mom calls to him from the doorway; "STEVEN!!! Where's the remote control to the television?!". Steve rolls his eyes and shouts back; "Did you check in your hairpiece?!". His mom replies; "Oh! YEA!!! HERE IT IS!!! THANK YOU BABYDOLLLL What would I do without youuu!!!". Steve turns
7 / 11
to his computer and mutters; "You'd probably live a normal life that isn't so insane."
He continues to type away at his digital partner and leans over to his CD player. He puts in a disc labeled; Legend of Zelda Soundtrack and puts it in play. Steve picks up one of his collectable swords and begins dancing around and swinging his sword around as well. Miss Database's voice enters the room; "Steven, you have a new message." Steve turns excitedly toward the computer and rushes to the monitor. Miss Database continues and reads the message out loud; "I would like to meet up with you sometime soon so we can finally see each other in person.", Steve types his reply and the message reads; "I'm not in this for any long term attachments. If we met in person, it would completely take away the whole point of managing to be so open with one another.". Stacy quickly replies back and Miss Database reads it out; "I'm sorry to hear that.", and with that, Stacy signed off and Steve was left alone with Miss Database; "There goes another.", says his computer. "Hey I resent that statement. You're the only girl for me.", Steve sarcastically replies. Miss Database continues; "You need to get someone that is meant for you and in human form. I'm only bolts, screws and a screen. Of course, you're only saying this because I'm typing this into your voice box. I can't believe I'm talking to myself.". Steve stops typing and leans back into his chair. He folds his arms back behind his head and leans back a bit further. He gets up from his chair after a few minutes and makes his way to his closet and puts on his one piece pajamas with Tom and Jerry cartoon characters all over them. He then heads over to his racecar bed and lies down.
The sun is shining through the window onto Steve's face. He squints his eyes and opens them slowly with an angered look on his face. Steve gets up from his small racecar bed and makes a large stretch with his arms and twists his legs every which way. He yawns a deep yawn at the same time. Steve makes his way to his counter top near his computer and pulls out his coffee maker from the cupboard above it and makes a pot of coffee. The coffee maker lets out a small beeping sound that the coffee is finished and Steve pulls out a mug from the same cupboard. He pours himself a large amount and gulps it down. He places the mug into his small sink. Steve shuffles his way back to his closet and opens it. He grabs a pair of high waters and a white flannel shirt. He takes off his clothes from his sleep and folds them neatly and places them on the bed. Steve puts on his new clothes and makes his way to the bathroom. Steve takes out his Hulk toothbrush, Spiderman toothpaste, and Batman mouthwash. He squirts some toothpaste onto
8 / 11
his brush and brushes his teeth. He then takes his mouthwash and gargles a bit of it. He puts the supplies away, grabs a razor and looks into the mirror for any new stubble on his scalp. He takes out his contact lens case and puts each contact lens into each eye. He puts his case away and heads out of the bathroom. He marches up the basement stairs and heads for the back door. Steve's mother enters the room and looks at him baffled; "Are you going out?", she asked. Steve looks over to her as he grabs his shoes and puts them on; "I'm just going to mow Sarah's lawn.".
Steve heads out the door and to his shed. He grabs a pair of gardening gloves after opening the door and his lawnmower and he heads for his next door neighbor's house. Steve gets to Sarah's house; his neighbor, and rings her doorbell. Sarah answers the door. She's wearing a thins spaghetti strapped shirt with red strawberries all over it and a pair of jean shorts with a cherry on each pocket. Her flip flops are glittery and shimmer in the sunlight. She has very curly and wavy hair that falls past her shoulders and freckles on her face. Steve gets visibly nervous and begins to sweat and shake a bit. "Hey... Hey Sarah, I I'm here to cut your grass.". Sarah looks at him and smiles; "Ok, thank you.", she says back sweetly. Sarah looks at Steve with a hopeful expression on her face. Steve says nothing and turns to his work. Sarah has an expression of small sadness in her eyes and she turns and heads inside. She shuts the door behind her and Steve starts his mower. He begins mowing the lawn and goes back and forth so the lines touch and the grass is even. Steve's hands shake with the mower's handles and he stops mowing when he's halfway through with the yard. He takes off his gloves and wipes his brow. Sweat pours from his forehead. Sarah comes out with a tall glass of lemonade and hands it to Steve. He smiles at her and takes it quietly. After several gulps, Steve hands her back an empty glass, "Thank you, Sarah.", "You're welcome." Sarah replies. Sarah begins to walk away and Steve calls back to her; "Sarah?", Sarah whips around and looks hopeful again at Steve, "Yes?" And Steve turns back to the mower out of nervousness; "Never mind."
